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Authors Posts by Melissa Dehoff

Melissa Dehoff

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Melissa Dehoff is responsible for all medical rehabilitation and brain injury service issues. Ms. Dehoff attends multiple state-level meetings to advocate on behalf of members on brain injury and rehabilitation issues and is a member of the Department of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board.

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The next Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for April 2, 2025. The meeting will be held from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm in the Forest Room at the Commonwealth Keystone Building, which is located at 400 North Street in Harrisburg, PA. The option to participate virtually is also available. If attending virtually, please register here.

The option to call in is also available by dialing (213) 929-4212; Access code: 967-895-502#.

Public comments will be taken following each presentation. Questions can be entered into the chat box during the presentations, which will be asked at the end of each presentation. There will be an additional period at the end of the meeting for any additional comments or concerns. Questions about alternative methods for submitting questions or comments during a subcommittee meeting, including options when no internet access is available, should be sent via email to the LTSS Subcommittee inbox.

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The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) recently released the results and highlights from their first public opinion survey in over 25 years.

Some of the key findings from the results of the survey include:

  • Brain injury affects nearly 4 in 10 people, but fewer than 1 in 4 are asked about brain injury by healthcare providers.
  • While most adults claim to be familiar with concussions, their knowledge about brain injury is mixed.
  • Brain injury is seen by most people as a chronic health condition but not as an invisible or hidden disability.
  • More than 8 in 10 (81%) adults in the U.S. do not recognize concussions as traumatic brain injuries.

The Harris Poll conducted the online survey on behalf of the Brain Injury Association of America February 4 – 6, 2025, and polled nearly 2,100 U.S. adults to measure public opinions about and familiarity with brain injuries.

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The Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL) released the rate study that was commissioned last August after RCPA and other industry associations collaborated to access the information needed to establish rates for services.

For background purposes, HCBS are offered through Medicaid as an alternative to facility or institutional care. Reimbursement rates for these programs are set by DHS and are informed by an actuarial rate setting process and a public comment process. Long-term services and supports (LTSS) help older Pennsylvanians and adults with physical disabilities.

The rate study revealed the need for substantial and immediate rate increases for the services which were evaluated. The study concluded, “Given the comparisons to benchmark rates, it appears that revisions to the rates studied for this report would be appropriate. The tables below show detailed results from the benchmark rate comparison.” The specific rate gaps were:

  • Adult Day                                                                     19%
  • Employment and Training Services                             35%
  • Personal Assistance — Agency                                   23%
  • Personal Assistance — PDS                                       12%
  • Residential Habilitation                                                44%
  • Structured Day Habilitation                                          22%

Findings of the study are used to inform the Commonwealth’s budget and future rate setting processes. View the results here.

If you have any questions, please contact Fady Sahhar or Melissa Dehoff.

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The Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Subcommittee meeting convened on February 5, 2025. During the meeting, a number of presentations were given. In addition to the presentations, the February meeting agenda and the meeting transcript from the January 8, 2025, LTSS Subcommittee meeting were provided.

Members should take time to review the PowerPoint presentations from the meeting:

The meeting transcript is available here.

The next LTSS Subcommittee meeting is scheduled for March 7, 2025, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and will be held via webinar and remote streaming.

To participate in the meeting via webinar, please register here.
If calling into the meeting, the dial-in information is: 1 (562) 247-8422; Access Code: 145-307-305#

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Tomorrow, February 5, the House Human Services Committee will hold a second informational meeting on the treatment and support for Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The meeting will be held at 9:00 am in Room G-50 in the Irvis Office Building of the Capitol.

The hearing will include testimony to be provided by the PA Department of Health, NeuroRestorative, Woods Services, Penn State Health, and Penn State College of Medicine. Following the testimony from the panelists, they will receive questions from the members of the Committees.

The meeting will be livestreamed, which can be accessed from the Human Services website here.

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